The Roman pilum and kindred shafted missiles
The laminated Roman pilum, Gaulish gaesa and the iaculum, after Varro and Festus
The glossary continues with shafted missile weapons, headed by a note equating the Roman pilum, the Gaulish gaesum and the Macedonian larissa. Leonardo gives a detailed account of the pilum — sawn lengthwise, its ends reversed and rejoined with fish glue, then sinew-bound so that it would not bend — and adds the gaesa, ruma, rumex, telum and the Gaulish sparus. The sheet closes with the iaculum, said to have been invented by Aetolus, citing Varro and Festus Pompeius.
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The pilum: a laminated, sinew-bound Roman shaft
Leonardo describes the pilum as sawn lengthwise into two, its ends reversed and rejoined with fish glue, then sinew-bound in rings every half-cubit so it would not bend when hung like a balance. No armour was said to withstand its thrust, and it was much used among the Britons.
Pilum, gaesum and larissa equated
The top note equates the Roman pilum with the Gaulish gaesum and the Macedonian larissa. A later line adds that the ruma, pilum, rumex and telum are alike among themselves and resemble the Gaulish sparus.
Ruma, rumex, telum and the Gaulish sparus
A cluster of shafts is grouped as mutually similar and likened to the Gaulish sparus. Each is drawn as a slender pole with a small head.
Iaculum, named from 'scattering', after Festus
The iaculum is said to have been invented by Aetolus, son of Mars, on Varro's authority. Festus Pompeius adds that rustic country javelins take their name from spargere, to scatter.